A 20-point fourth-quarter deficit should have buried Texas. Instead, No.
4/3 Texas turned Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium into the site of a historic escape, rallying past consensus No. 1 Ohio State, 24-23, before 105,044 fans on Saturday evening.
The Longhorns’ comeback did more than stun the Buckeyes. It matched the second-largest fourth-quarter rally in program history and was Texas’ first comeback of that size since Nov. 3, 2007 against Oklahoma State.
It also snapped a run that had lasted for decades: Texas became the first team in the last 22 seasons to erase a 20-point fourth-quarter deficit against an AP No. 1 team. Since 2004, AP No. 1 teams had been 197-0 when leading by 20 in the fourth.
The winning sequence came fast and furious. Hollywood Smothers finished off the comeback with 25 seconds left on a touchdown that tied the game at 23-23, and Gianni Spetic added the extra point to complete a 21-0 surge.
That kick gave Texas its first win over an AP No. 1 since beating then top-ranked SMU on Nov. 4, 1950.
Smothers had already trimmed the margin earlier in the quarter, punching in a 1-yard touchdown run with 7:14 remaining to bring Texas within six. He finished with 74 rushing yards and two touchdowns, becoming the third Longhorn in the last 30 years to score at least twice on the ground against an AP No. 1.
Arch Manning and Ryan Wingo helped ignite the rally at the start of the fourth quarter, connecting on a 3-yard touchdown pass in the opening minute of the period. Manning finished 23-for-37 for 196 yards and a touchdown, and the closing stretch added another fourth-quarter comeback to his ledger - his fourth career one. In the final frame alone, he went 8-for-11 for 83 yards and a score.
Texas’ defense slammed the door after the offense got rolling. The Longhorns held Ohio State scoreless over the final 15 minutes, the first time since Oct. 12, 1963 that Texas blanked a top-ranked opponent in the fourth quarter. The Buckeyes managed just five completions on 16 attempts from quarterback Julian Sayin and threw an interception.
Texas won the second half 239-132 in total offense and continued a remarkable streak of forcing turnovers at home, doing so in 25 straight home games - the longest active run in the FBS.
Linebacker Justin Cryer led the team with nine tackles and added one tackle for loss. Defensive back Graceson Littleton recorded his third career interception. Senior edge Colin Simmons chipped in two tackles for loss and a sack, bringing his career total to 9.5 sacks in 10 games against AP Top 10 opponents.
The scene matched the moment. The crowd of 105,044 was the third-largest ever at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, and ESPN’s College GameDay was on campus Saturday morning, marking the 29th time the show has been a featured part of a Longhorns game.
Texas now turns to UTSA, which visits Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 19.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. CT on SEC Network+.
In Other News...
Texas-Ohio State Is Already Creating An Austin Frenzy
The buzz around Texas trip to Ohio State is already spilling far beyond the field, with ticket prices turning the matchup into a hot topic in Austin before kickoff even arrives. Seats in the upper deck are starting around $480, and the cost climbs into the thousands closer to the action, putting this one out of reach for plenty of Longhorns students who had hoped to be in the building.
Still, the game is shaping up to be a major moment for the city as much as for the team. Local business owners and economic experts are expecting a wave of visitors to bring a noticeable boost to Austin, adding another layer to a matchup that is already carrying plenty of weight for Texas fans trying to take it all in, even if they have to do so from afar. [Read more 🡒]
Urban Meyer Sees Ohio State Texas Coming Down To One Big Play
Urban Meyer is treating the Ohio State-Texas showdown like the kind of early-season heavyweight fight that can swing on a single moment. After both teams rolled through their openers against overmatched opponents, the former Buckeyes coach pointed to the quarterbacks as the obvious center of gravity, with Julian Sayin and Arch Manning carrying most of the pressure in a game that figures to be tight for a long stretch.
Texas does get the home-field edge, and Meyer acknowledged that as part of what makes this such a tricky road test for Ohio State. Still, he called for the Buckeyes to pull it out, which only adds another layer to a matchup already loaded with intrigue. For a Longhorns team trying to measure itself against one of the sports standard-bearers, the margin for error may be as slim as Meyer suggests. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Faces One Real Backfield Concern Before Ohio State
Texas has spent much of the buildup to Ohio State sorting through the usual early-season questions, but the one backfield wrinkle worth watching is the status of freshman running back Derrek Cooper. He was hurt in the season opener, and while the Longhorns have not issued an official injury report, head coach Steve Sarkisian said Cooper was in a boot as the team moved into the week.
Cooper is now a game-time decision, which leaves a little uncertainty in an area where Texas otherwise expects to lean on its top options. If he cannot go, the Longhorns should have enough depth to cover the workload, with Hollywood Smothers and Raleek Brown likely carrying most of the load. Still, against a national-stage opponent like Ohio State, every available back matters, and Texas would prefer to know exactly what it has before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]